According to reports, mediamen covering the Department of Education took offense at a statement by newly-appointed Education Secretary Brother Armin Luistro. The offending line: “Hindi nakakatulong ang media (The media do not help in any way).”
Apparently, the offended mediamen took it as a form of shabby treatment. Oo nga. Ang shabby naman Mr. Secretary. What’s up with that anyway? Are you not aware Mr. Secretary, that you can’t be pissing off members of the media unless you’re prepared to be demonized? You should strive to seem subservient to them. Never mind that sometimes they can really be annoying. Never mind too that half if not most of the time they are actually doing more harm to this country than good.
But, let’s see if Luistro had good reason to say such a foul thing.
According to this report from manilatimes.net, Luistro made that “offending” statement in response to an inquiry on what he thought about former Education Secretary Mona Valisno’s plan to include sex education in the curriculum for elementary and high school students.
Another report from abs-cbnnews.com provides better context. It says Luistro was blaming the media for adding “fuel to the fire between the government and the Catholic Church regarding the sex education program.”
Yun naman pala eh.
Come to think of it, there really is something wrong when an issue as big as sex education is treated as a sabong (cockfight) between one party (the government) and another (the Catholic Church). The problem with the local media is that most of the time all it ever does is pit opposing sides against one another. Instead of providing the general public with truly useful information, some members of the media just engage in sabong commentary, which does nothing for the betterment of the Filipino as it simply enhances whatever useless noise there is.
Hindi nakakatulong ang media
The Secretary’s statement speaks some truth about media’s shortcomings. Just consider the quality of its coverage of the last campaign season. I don’t know about you but I find the media’s output during that period largely disappointing. Consider the following:
- most reports, focused on personalities and their showbiz-like activities instead of their platforms
- the few reports on supposed platforms failed to differentiate between a real platform and a standard-issue list of motherhood statements
- reports on survey results were sorely lacking in serious analysis; obviously media simply accepted and regurgitated whatever was fed to it
- so-called election fora organized by media companies provided no deeper insight into the candidates’ plans since so-called highly respected and seasoned journalists focused more on asking trivial and oftentimes idiotic questions
Thanks to these media shortcomings, the campaign and election season ended with the Filipino still none the wiser. In short, hindi talaga nakatulong ang media.
Don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you
Lest I be accused of taking Luistro’s side here, I will say that the secretary also erred in dismissing a valid question. As a friend of mine pointed out:
Education more than almost any other government function apart from maybe health care demands a high level of community engagement. Essentially telling media people to eff off is not demonstrating an understanding of that.
But more than that, it’s interesting to note that, as a member of the Black and White Movement, Brother Armin Luistro himself is not a stranger to panggugulo. Their target of course was the administration of then President Gloria Arroyo. I believe at that time not a few level-headed people who saw at least some good in what the Arroyo Administration was doing saw the Black and White Movement as a major nuisance.
So to be fair to both Luistro and those mediamen he pissed off I’ll just say this:
Tigil-tigilan nyo nga yang drama n’yo at ayusin nyo na lang ang mga trabaho n’yo. Tama na ang drama.
Here are some characteristics; I’ve observed from Noynoy Aquino’s followers:
1. They are self righteous. They refuse to listen to opposing views. They don’t want to debate with people of opposing views.
2. They are self centered. Concious always of the effect of the Media exposure. They use paid Mediamen in Blogsites, to sing good praises to Noynoy Aquino. And paid hacks to comment on the Blog sites.
3. They are allergic to criticism. They cannot face reality; if you tell them the true situation of our country.
4. They are ignorant of the root causes of the problems of our country. So, they resort to “sloganeering”.
5. Cory Aquino is their Saint. Noynoy Aquino is their demi-god. Bayan Ko is their national Anthem.
6. They wear yellow tinted glasses to view reality.
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jenette Reply:
August 22nd, 2010 at 11:31 am
true enough….they actually cant take criticisms….i was blocked out on their so-called “feedback mechanism” fb page because i was criticizing his educ. policies he wanted to implement…. they cant face the truth… a priest…deped secretary…think he does not fit in the position…pnoy mixing up the separation of church and state…hahaha…he needs to review the constitution….
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This is a divisive President. Even his followers are promoting divisiveness.
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Toroman Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Have you been in front of a mirror?
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Hyden Toro Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 2:02 am
What I look like infront of the mirror does not matter. I am just citing the truth. This is what I’ve observed on the Aquino followers.
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I’ve interviewed Bro. Armin before and I know that the guy carefully chooses his words. I was a bit surprised na hindi nakapagtimpi si Brother sa press this time. Haha. I guess it’s about time somebody had the balls to call out the media on their shortcomings.
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Hyden Toro Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 2:06 am
Why would you put a Priest in a Cabinet position? You know: Church and State are separated in our goverment system; fully guaranteed in our Constitution. We are a secular government.
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Armin Reply:
July 10th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
The doctrine on separation of church and state refers to the prohibition on government to impose a state religion. Bawal ang gobyerno na makialam sa relihiyon.
To be clear, Bro. Armin is a Lasallian Brother, not a Priest. He is the DepEd secretary not because he is a religious, but because he is an educator by training and practice, with experience in running a national educational institution.
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Do not twist the provision of the Constitution. The Philippine Constitution clearly was derived from the U.S. contitution. It was the birth of a Secular State. A separation of the State and the Church, is clearly defined. If I appoint a Catholic Priest as Education Secretary. Are not Priests duty to Minister their congregations?
Removing his education. What is his business in a government post? To impose his religion? Or a payback to the Catholic Church which the Aquinos used to rise into power? There are more qualified people than the Priest, who can do the Job.
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Armin Reply:
July 11th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Firstly, I cannot blame your for not knowing what the principle of separation of Church and State is.
Anyway, for your enlightenment: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Separation_of_church_and_state_in_the_Philippines.
Secondly, the Catholic Church (specifically the CBCP), while not endorsing anyone outrightly, preferred de los Reyes and Villar over Aquino, who locked horns with Archbishop Rosales for his (Aquino’s) support of the RH bill. It would make much more sense sa “payback” theory mo kung Iglesia Minister (say, the president of New Era University?) ang nilagay ni Noynoy sa DepEd.
Again, for your enlightenment: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100503-267769/Church-enlists-Villar-de-los-Reyes-in-drive-vs-RH-bill
Thirdly, bakit mo tatanggalin sa consideration ang education ni Brother Armin? E kaya nga siya ang pinili eh, dahil sa education administration background niya that is both extensive and impressive. I’m a La Salle alumni, and I never once felt na may campaign to proselytize. It was all about the education. Kung gusto mo ng pulitiko sa napaka-prone to corruption na position, be my guest, pero I think with Brother Armin we can rest easy na hindi nangungurakot ang DepEd secretary.
Lastly, and I must emphasize, Brother Armin is a Brother, not a Priest.
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jenette Reply:
August 22nd, 2010 at 11:35 am
well, would that be a good basis? im afraid not…..there are so many deserving people who would fit in the position for deped secretary…..are sure if u put a priest or a brother in a position there would be no corruption? come on….be realistic!!!!
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Even he is a brother or a sister. The Political appointment is tinted with religious agenda. It is a payback of the Aquinos, who used the Catholic Church to gain political power. This Brother Armin is there to promote the Catholic Church religious agendas. I have no doubt about it. They choose the Education Department; because it is where they will continue the Catholic out of date teachings. I would believe his good intention. If he is appointed in the Social Welfare Department.
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Sige pare. Choose what you wish to believe.
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